In a clear signal that interest rates will harden in the coming days, the country's two leading private lenders, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank, have raised lending rates for auto loans.ICICI Bank said it has hiked auto loan rates by 0.25 to 0.5 per cent, depending on the segment and tenor, with effect from March 5. HDFC Bank hiked auto loan rates by up to 100 basis points.HDFC and ICICI Bank also discontinued their special home loan schemes, which offer a lower interest rate for the first few years of the credit period. An HDFC spokesperson confirmed to PTI, that the lender is not continuing with the special offer, which was valid only up to February 27. The Reserve Bank had expressed displeasure at teaser rates, as it discriminates between existing and new borrowers. Kotak Mahindra Bank, and the group's car-loan financing arm, also announced hikes in home and car-loan rates today.